I'm not really one who likes to toot her own horn...I live my life with kindness and try to be the best person I can. Recently I was nominated for a slight recognition...just an article in the newspaper and a nice, professional photo....and a few other "goodies". Here's a link to the article: DM Register - Mom of the Month November 2009 (yep, the link is gone!)
....and just in case the link ever goes dead....below is the picture and a copy of the interview.......
Meet Jenipher Wilkinson Sutherland
Mom of four boys: Ethan and Elijah, 14; Emmett, 12; Escher, 9
User name: onehipmom
Tell us about what you do and about your family.
I am a high school special education English teacher. I am also a certified art teacher. On weekends I teach a class at the Des Moines Art Center for young children with autism. I am the owner and designer of OneHipMom Jewelry & Ornament, and I am the membership coordinator for Central Iowa Mensa. I have four boys. Our 12-year-old, Emmett, is autistic. We have a Golden Retriever named Miles and a ginger cat named Mingus. My husband is a professional musician with a national blues act based out of San Francisco. So far, we have chosen to stay in Iowa ... because I love it here.
How did you meet your husband, Scot Sutherland?
I was singing in a reggae band in Des Moines the summer of 1991. One evening, between sets, this guy came up and was talking to our keyboard player, Mark. I was still hanging around on stage, so Mark introduced us.
He ended up joining the reggae band and we went on to be in another band together, too. I was attracted to the fact that he was always a gentleman, and that he was humble and kind.
How do you manage your family when your husband is traveling?
I couldn't do it all without a great support system.
What's your outlook on life?
My life is complicated and busy and I find that invigorating. I try to be the best mom, wife and teacher I can be while still maintaining my autonomy as a woman. I won't let my titles and roles define me.
What are some of your favorite Mom moments?
I love that the Ethan and Elijah, who are now 14 (and are 6 feet tall!), will still come up and give me hugs. I love that Emmett is like a present that I get to open a little more of every day. Escher is a wild boy, but always has something kind to say.
My favorite recent moment was the one-on-one trip I took with Escher this past summer. We drove out to Colorado for his birthday, we went to Casa Bonita for dinner, went panning for gold on his birthday and went to a music festival in Winter Park that Scot was playing at. Then the three of us went to Colorado Springs and had some more fun.
I try to do things with all the kids. The twins and I have scary movie nights, Emmett and I go to the bookstore, Escher and I hang out and read books.
How did you find out your son was autistic?
At first we thought Emmett was deaf. He'd be watching "Sesame Street," but wouldn't turn around if we called his name. He would lie on the floor and spend vast amounts of time lining up his trains.
We had his hearing tested and it was normal. We went through the typical channels for a diagnosis. Although we had suspected autism, it didn't dampen the shock of hearing it from a medical professional.
He was 26 months old when he was diagnosed as PDD/NOS, and over the years he's had labels such as: classic autism, Semantic-Pragmatic Disorder, Hyperlexia ... etc. What it all comes down to is my son has a severe communication disorder.
What advice would you give to other mothers raising a child with autism?
Nothing can really prepare you for raising a child with a disability. You cry, you grieve, you laugh, you love, you advocate, you educate, but you never, ever, ever give up. Every parent has to travel their own road on their child's autism journey. It helps to connect with other parents.
As a special education teacher and the parent of a child with special needs, I urge parents to be proactive in their child's education. Most of all, take care of yourself. You can't be a good parent if you don't take the time to do something for yourself. Take a class at the Art Center or through Community Education, join a reading club, pick up a hobby - anything - as long as it is your time to do something solely for yourself.
User name: onehipmom
Tell us about what you do and about your family.
I am a high school special education English teacher. I am also a certified art teacher. On weekends I teach a class at the Des Moines Art Center for young children with autism. I am the owner and designer of OneHipMom Jewelry & Ornament, and I am the membership coordinator for Central Iowa Mensa. I have four boys. Our 12-year-old, Emmett, is autistic. We have a Golden Retriever named Miles and a ginger cat named Mingus. My husband is a professional musician with a national blues act based out of San Francisco. So far, we have chosen to stay in Iowa ... because I love it here.
How did you meet your husband, Scot Sutherland?
I was singing in a reggae band in Des Moines the summer of 1991. One evening, between sets, this guy came up and was talking to our keyboard player, Mark. I was still hanging around on stage, so Mark introduced us.
He ended up joining the reggae band and we went on to be in another band together, too. I was attracted to the fact that he was always a gentleman, and that he was humble and kind.
How do you manage your family when your husband is traveling?
I couldn't do it all without a great support system.
What's your outlook on life?
My life is complicated and busy and I find that invigorating. I try to be the best mom, wife and teacher I can be while still maintaining my autonomy as a woman. I won't let my titles and roles define me.
What are some of your favorite Mom moments?
I love that the Ethan and Elijah, who are now 14 (and are 6 feet tall!), will still come up and give me hugs. I love that Emmett is like a present that I get to open a little more of every day. Escher is a wild boy, but always has something kind to say.
My favorite recent moment was the one-on-one trip I took with Escher this past summer. We drove out to Colorado for his birthday, we went to Casa Bonita for dinner, went panning for gold on his birthday and went to a music festival in Winter Park that Scot was playing at. Then the three of us went to Colorado Springs and had some more fun.
I try to do things with all the kids. The twins and I have scary movie nights, Emmett and I go to the bookstore, Escher and I hang out and read books.
How did you find out your son was autistic?
At first we thought Emmett was deaf. He'd be watching "Sesame Street," but wouldn't turn around if we called his name. He would lie on the floor and spend vast amounts of time lining up his trains.
We had his hearing tested and it was normal. We went through the typical channels for a diagnosis. Although we had suspected autism, it didn't dampen the shock of hearing it from a medical professional.
He was 26 months old when he was diagnosed as PDD/NOS, and over the years he's had labels such as: classic autism, Semantic-Pragmatic Disorder, Hyperlexia ... etc. What it all comes down to is my son has a severe communication disorder.
What advice would you give to other mothers raising a child with autism?
Nothing can really prepare you for raising a child with a disability. You cry, you grieve, you laugh, you love, you advocate, you educate, but you never, ever, ever give up. Every parent has to travel their own road on their child's autism journey. It helps to connect with other parents.
As a special education teacher and the parent of a child with special needs, I urge parents to be proactive in their child's education. Most of all, take care of yourself. You can't be a good parent if you don't take the time to do something for yourself. Take a class at the Art Center or through Community Education, join a reading club, pick up a hobby - anything - as long as it is your time to do something solely for yourself.
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